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Book. 




Brood Coops 

AND 

APPLIANCES 

BOYSandGIRLS 

POULTRY 

CLUB 

WORK 







UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 13 

CONTRIBUTION FROM 

BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY 

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DIVISION 

WASHINGTON. D. C 



uib'aARY OF CONGRESS 



NOVl. 






.US'? 

BROOD COOPS AND APPLIANCES. 



BROOD COOPS FOR HEN AND CHICKS. 

EVERY boy and girl club member should provide a good coop for 
the mother hen and little chickens. If you do not have one 
already, it should be built before it is time for the little chicks to 
hatch. Many boys and girls build their coops in the wintertime 
so as to have them ready for spring use, and when this is done a 
nest box can be placed in the coop and used for the sitting hen. A 
properly constructed coop is a good place for hatching chickens as well 




"A" shaped brood coop for Jien and chickens. 

as brooding them. When chickens are hatched in the brood coop, 
however, the nest should be removed and the coop thoroughly cleaned 
and disinfected before putting the hen in with her chickens. 

The two brood coops ("A" shaped and box coop as illustrated) can 
be easily made from dry-goods boxes or other available material. 
The "A" shaped coop, as shown in the illustration above, is collapsible 

3 



Department Circular 13, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



so that it can be easily cleaned or stored away in winter. Or if desira- 
ble, it may be built stationary by simply nailing fast the top, back, and 
slats in front and placing same on a removable bottom. A wire 
screen door (1-inch mesh or smaller) of some sort should be provided, 
as shown in the illustration of the collapsible coop, to place over the 
front at night. This will prevent rats and other enemies from entering 
the coop and kiUing the chickens, and will also keep the little chicks 
confined early in the morning, when the grass is wet. A hook or clasp 
of some sort should be put on the door to hold it firmly in place. 

The mother hen should be confined to the brood coop until the 
chicks are weaned. This will give the little chicks a better start in 
life and prevent loss from storms, hawks, etc. 

Floors should be constructed for the brood coops to rest on. This 
will keep the chickens dry, and if kept clean and well disinfected it 




l?ox brood coop for hen and chicks. 



will prevent losses from disease. It is a good plan to keep some dry 
sand or chaff on the floor under the coop. This helps to keep the 
coop dry and makes cleaning easy. 

To make brood coops rain-proof cover all cracks on the top, back 
and sides with strips of wood or tin, or better still, cover with roofing 
paper of some kind if you have it. Construct the brood coop so well 
that it can be used year after year. 



Brood Coops and Appliances. 



Poultry-club members are successful when they give their birds 
good care. Fowls of all kinds, both old and young, will thrive and 
yield a profit when given proper care and attention. 

COOP FOR SHIPPING EXHIBITION FOWLS. 

Club members who wish to ship their fowls and have them arrive 
by express in the best possible manner will want a special shipping 
coop like the illustration shown below. They are solid, substantial 
and will last for a long time. Such a coop may be made from boards 
taken from dry-goods boxes or almost any other half-inch material. 
Boards more than one-half inch thick should not be used, as it makes 
the coop too heavy. The coop may be put together with nails, with 
the exception of the slats or cover on the top, which should be put 
on with screws or hinges and hooks so it may be easily opened. This 
is very important, as the top or cover must be opened each time the 



\ 




Coop for shipping exhibition fowls. 



coop is used, and if put on with nails is soon broken and the coop 
spoiled. The following dimensions should be used in constructing 
same: 

For one hen or cock — 12 inches wide, 18 inches long and 24 inches 
high. 

For two hens or hen and cock — 12 inches wide, 24 inches long and 
24 inches high. 

For a trio or two hens and one coc/j— 18 inches wide, 24 inches long 
and 24 inches high. 



6 Department Circular 13, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 

For an exhibition pen or four hens and cock — 24 inches wide. 24 
inches long and 24 inches high. 

In preparing for shipment a small quantity of hay, straw, or dry 
shavings should be placed in the bottom of the coop to absorb the 
moisture, and a cup or can provided for both feed and water. The 
cans should be nailed securely about halfway to the top of the coop. 
A tag or card plainly marked, showing destination of the shipment 
as well as your return address, must be tacked or pasted on the out- 
side where it can be plainly seen. 

EXHIBITION COOP FOR POULTRY-CLUB MEMBERS. 

The exhibition or show coop here illustrated can be easily made 
and is for the use of poultry-club members in exhibiting fowls at 
county and school fairs or other exhibitions. It should not be used 




Homemade exhibition coop. 



for shipping poultry, but may be used to take the birds to the show 
if carried by wagon or other vehicle. It can be made from a dry- 
goods box or almost any other available material; the floor to be 
solid and the framework of wooden strips 2 inches wide and 13^ 
inches thick. The top, back, and sides may be covered with lath, 
wire netting or any kind of thin, strong cloth. The front should be 
of 2-inch wire netting. If impossible to obtain netting, however, 
lath may be used, but should be placed about 2}/^ inches apart so 



Brood Coops and Appliances. 



as to afford as much opportunity as possible to see the birds. The 
coop is made 2 feet wide, 2 feet deep and 2 feet high and will accom- 
modate one mature bird or a pair of chickens. If more than this are 
to be exhibited together, the coop should be made larger in proportion 
to the number of fowls it is to accommodate. 

Every poultry-club member who intends to exhibit his birds should 
have one or more exhibition coops of this nature, depending upon the 
number of specimens he intends to exhibit. Birds can be trained and 
conditioned in these coops previous to the exhibition, and in becoming 
accustomed U) same they will appear to better advantage when being 
judged and are more likely to win a prize. Furthermore, when your 
birds are shown in coops of this kind .that are uniform in size and 
style, they not only improve the appearance of the showroom but 
add considerably to the attractiveness of your exhibit. 

Training and exhibiting some of the best specimens every fall in 
both old and young birds is an interesting and imp(Mtant part of 
boys' and girls' poultry-club work. The boy or girl who is able to 
produce the best has much to be proud of, and each one should take 
part in this educational but friendly competition. 

DRY-MASH HOPPER. 

The dry-mash hopper (see illustration) is intended for use inside 
the laying house. It should be hung against the wall about eight or 
ten inches from the floor, or as high as possible, so long as the fowls 




l)ry-inas!i lio])i)i 



can reach the mash. This prevents the mash from being thrown out 
and wasted. It may be made from boards taken from dry-goods 
boxes or other thin material. There are three compartments — one 



8 Department Circular 13, U. S. Depl. of Agriculture. 

for grit, one for shell, and one for dry mash. The projections extend- 
ing out from the partitions are to prevent the fowls from mixing the 
dry mash with the grit and shell, as well as from wasting it. The 
feeding of dry mash is a better practice than feeding wet or moist 
mash, as it requires less work and the hens can regulate their food to 
suit their needs. 

DRINKING FOUNTAIN. 

A satisfactory way to provide drinking water is to use an ordinary 
stone, iron or galvanized dish, pot or crock (the size depending upon 
the number of birds), placing it on a shelf or platform high enough 
from the floor to prevent the fowls from scratching litter, etc., into it. 

Various styles of drinking fountains for both fowls and chicks can 
be purchased from poultry-supply dealers if wanted. 






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